"It seemed to me the notes were almost perfect," he wrote of the van Royen flat."I walked around the walls, watching its planes, shadows and proportions in a state of near elation."

-John Pawson

John PawsonExpression

Interior, van Royen Apartment, London, 1990

Pawson arrived from outside the usual channels of architectural apprenticeship. He never completed his studies, and never worked for another architectural practice, but only for the designer Shiro Kuramata, whom Pawson discovered in his 20s when drifting through Japan. His first work, a flat for his then girlfriend Hester van Royen, already showed what would be his distinctive style, and immediately got him published. His inspirations included the art of Donald Judd, and his early fans included the writer Bruce Chatwin. "It seemed to me the notes were almost perfect," he wrote of the van Royen flat. "I walked around the walls, watching its planes, shadows and proportions in a state of near elation."

David John is co-founder of DISC Interiors in Los Angeles. This is his personal journal, a collection of conversations with friends, makers, and artists, as well as his photographs. You Have Been Here Sometime. Feel free to contact:david ( at ) discinteriors.com